Automated financial reporting: What FP&A leaders need to know in 2024

What is automated financial reporting?

Automated financial reporting uses specialized software or artificial intelligence (AI) to generate financial reports for businesses efficiently. FP&A teams rely on this software to:

• Execute account reconciliation
• Automate monthly close and data entry
• Prepare financial statements and management reports

With automated financial reporting, FP&A teams eliminate the need to sift through multiple systems or paper trails to update financial statements. Instead, the software automatically pulls data from various systems, including legacy ones, to quickly generate reports. 

Additionally, the system logs every activity, making audit trails easy to access and share. 

Benefits of automating financial reports

Let’s take a look at the benefits of automating financial reports for FP&A teams:

Higher productivity and faster approvals

Automating financial reports means accountants can free up their time from manual data entry, report generation, and reconciliation tasks. This shift allows FP&A teams to focus on revenue-focused tasks like analysis and strategy development.

Automation can also speed up invoice approvals by routing reports to the right people based on predefined workflows. With controlled access, finance teams can approve invoices on their mobile devices and address any issues directly within the application, ensuring timely approvals and smooth payment cycles.

Increased accuracy and fewer errors

Automated reporting pulls information from multiple data sources, such as Excel or your ERP, saving time and reducing the need to switch between programs and compile data manually.

When finance team members spend hours on data entry, mistakes are inevitable and often difficult to detect and correct. By automating financial reporting, you ensure data accuracy by minimizing the risk of human error. 

More accurate data means accurate reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. 

Greater transparency and improved fraud prevention

Automated financial reporting systems can record every transaction and change made within the system, allowing you to trace all changes back to their source. FP&A teams can use this traceability to identify any unusual activity, making it easier to detect issues before they escalate. 

FP&A teams can also use automated financial reporting systems to generate reports that provide a transparent and detailed overview of the company’s financial health. FP&A teams can share this report with investors, management teams, and regulatory bodies. 

Since automated financial reporting systems limit human interference, bad actors will have a harder time altering the company’s financial reports, effectively reducing fraud. 

How is financial reporting automated? 

FP&A teams automate financial reporting using software that integrates with the company’s existing financial systems, like FP&A software, data management tools, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. 

These platforms can help automate: 

• Data capture: Uses advanced optical character recognition (OCR) and automated workflows to capture and extract data from invoices, receipts, bank statements, and other financial documents and sources such as Gmail, Dropbox, and more
• Data integration: Connects to different data sources, such as ERP systems, databases, and spreadsheets, to gather financial data in real time without manual input
• Data validation: Checks the data for accuracy and flags any discrepancies 
• Data processing: Starts automated processes involving currency conversions, calculating financial metrics, or categorizing transactions 
• Report generation: Generates financial reports automatically using already predefined templates, which could include income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets
• Analysis and insights: Provides valuable insights while identifying trends, anomalies, and potential areas of concern to the company
• Distribution: The system sends the report to all relevant stakeholders through available channels, such as emails or secure portals 

What areas of financial reporting can be automated?

With all of those tasks automated, it’s easier for finance teams to:  

• Create financial statements: Finance teams can automate the preparation of key financial statements, including cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements. Automated reporting systems pull data directly from all integrated systems to ensure the information is accurate. 
• Conduct statement analysis: Automated financial reporting systems can analyze financial statements to identify trends. They can compare current and historical company data to help discover changes in revenue, cash flow, or expenses. FP&A teams can use this to discover areas that require attention and make data-backed decisions.
• Generate financial reports: Automated financial reporting software can generate different financial reports, such as management reports, budget variances, and more. FP&A teams can send these reports to key stakeholders, allowing for real-time reporting and up-to-the-minute insights into the company’s financial performance. 
• Manage regulatory compliance: It can automatically generate reports that match up with the standards set by the governing bodies, such as the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
• Input data: The software uses technology like OCR to eliminate the need for manual data entry by capturing data from various sources, including receipts, bank statements, and invoices.

Best practices for automated financial reporting

Let’s take a look at some of the best practices for automated financial reporting.

1. Assess current process and identify relevant financial reporting tools

Start by evaluating your current financial reporting processes. This will involve you doing the following:

• Mapping out your workflow: Start by documenting every step of your reporting process—from initial data collection to final report generation. Identify where inefficiencies occur, such as manual data entry or time-consuming reconciliations. For example, if reconciling accounts takes up too much time, this could be a key area for automation.
• Identifying pain points: Look for recurring issues that slow down your process or increase the risk of errors. Are there bottlenecks in data processing? Is report accuracy compromised due to manual interventions? Identifying these pain points can help you better understand areas where you need improvements.
• Selecting areas to improve upon: Focus on areas where automation can make a significant impact, like reducing errors or speeding up report generation

Once done, you can research and choose the best automation tool that suits your company's needs. When choosing a tool, look for  

• API integrations with your legacy systems
• Pre-built connectors and templates to popular financial software and ERPs
• A straightforward and relatively quick implementation process 
• A tool with robust security measures such as end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits
• A  user-friendly interface and customizable dashboards 

2. Train your team and encourage collaboration

Automated financial reporting software can take some time to learn. Provide technical training to your finance team and foster a culture of continuous learning. Motivate them to ask questions and provide feedback.

You should also encourage collaboration among finance teams. Give them a chance to learn from each other. You can even designate an automation champion in your organization so they can support and help their colleagues. 

3. Ensure data quality and adhere to accounting standards

Quality data means quality reporting. Maintain the integrity of your financial reports by ensuring data accuracy and consistency. Validate data sources regularly, correct discrepancies, and ensure all reporting aligns with relevant accounting standards and regulations. 

Best automated financial reporting tools

Let’s take a look at some of the automated financial reporting tools that can streamline financial reporting and enhance decision-making.

FP&A tools 

FP&A tools help FP&A teams carry out core financial processes, including data collection, consolidation and verification, planning and forecasting, budgeting, performance monitoring, and reporting and analytics. 

FP&A tools help finance teams build financial models and forecasts, provide advanced financial analysis and insights to organizations, monitor the business’s general financial performance, health, and investments, and identify and measure risks or new opportunities for business growth.

Top FP&A tools for automated financial reporting: 

1. Cube: Cube is a cloud-based FP&A platform that helps companies hit their numbers without having to sacrifice their spreadsheets. Cube helps your finance team work anywhere by natively integrating with Excel and Google Sheets. The platform enables you to build reports and dashboards with greater flexibility, and keep everyone on the same page.
2. Datarails: Datarails is an FP&A platform that enables you to automate data collection across your organization. The platform provides financial reporting and monthly close.
3. Anaplan: Anaplan provides various features for finance teams, including revenue planning, OpEx planning, headcount planning, capital planning, and zero-based budgeting.
4. Vena: Vena Solutions offers financial planning and analysis, integrated business planning, financial reporting, regulatory compliance reporting, and financial close management.

FP&A tools such as Cube have functionalities that go beyond this. They can also integrate with other solutions you typically use, like ERPs, CRMs, HRISs, and business intelligence software.

ERP systems 

Finance teams use ERP systems to manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, procurement, risk management, and compliance. 

An ERP system can help finance teams plan, budget, predict, and report on the financial health of a company. 

Examples of ERP systems include: 

1. Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft Dynamics 365 is an integrated suite of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management applications offered by Microsoft. It combines CRM and ERP functionalities into a single platform. 
2. Quickbooks Enterprise: Quickbooks Enterprise is an all-in-one accounting software with accounts receivable and payable, purchasing, and order management. It provides users with real-time insights and reports into business performance.
3. Sage 300: Sage 300 is an all-in-one business management software that enables you to auto-detect unrecorded transactions, errors, and differences, and reconcile your books with bank statements.

Payment platforms

Payment platforms facilitate the processing of financial transactions, allowing businesses to manage payments efficiently. 

These platforms support a range of payment methods, including credit cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets, and they often integrate with accounting systems to streamline financial reporting and reconciliation processes.

Examples of payment platforms include:

1. Stripe: Stripe provides a fully integrated suite of financial and payments products. It enables users to set up multi-party payments and payouts, accept and optimize payments globally, and create financial reports through APIs.  
2. PayPal: Paypal enables users to accept payments online and in person. Users can create reports and track everything from monthly sales activity to payment and transaction types.
3. Square: Square is a digital payment platform that provides businesses with tools to process transactions, manage inventory, and handle customer payments. The platform supports various payment methods, including credit cards and mobile payments, and offers additional features like point-of-sale systems and analytics.

Expense management tools

Finance teams use expense management tools for expense reimbursement and reconciliation. 

These tools automate the submission, approval, and reimbursement processes, ensuring that all expenses are accurately recorded and aligned with company policies.

Examples include:

1. Concur Expense: Concur Expense automates your expense reporting and lets you get more visibility into your company's spending habits. Users can see all expense data in a centralized platform and automatically capture receipts and process reports.
2. Expensify: Expensify is an expense management app that manages expenses, reimburses employees, creates expense reports, and sends invoices.
3. Zoho Expense: Zoho Expense enables you to create comprehensive expense reports, group reports with relevant expense types, and download reports to store on your computer.

Challenges to implementing automation in your financial reports

Finance teams face various challenges when implementing automation in their financial reports. Let’s take a look at some of the challenges:

System compatibility and integration

Some organizations still rely on legacy systems (an outdated computing system, either hardware or software still in use) for critical operations, despite their inefficiency and limitations. Many of these legacy systems may not be compatible with modern automated financial reporting software. Fixing this will require multiple upgrades, technical adjustments, and working with vendors who understand the specifics of the problems and how to fix them.  

Technical knowledge and retraining

Implementing modern automated financial reporting software is like adopting any new technology—it requires time and effort to train your team. 

While the learning curve may be steep, providing your team with hands-on training, whether through third-party providers or in-house resources, helps them quickly adapt. 

This investment in training boosts efficiency by reducing manual errors, speeding up report generation, and improving data accuracy, ultimately driving a strong return on investment through cost savings and better decision-making.

Data security and oversight

Like other software, automated financial reporting systems can be susceptible to cyber attacks, including data breaches, malware, and phishing attacks. 

Organizations can implement robust security measures, including data encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and stringent user access controls, to mitigate these risks. Look for automation tools that provide real time threat monitoring, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits.

Change management requirements

Resistance to change, lack of clear communication, and insufficient stakeholder engagement can hinder the adoption of new systems. Change management is necessary to solidify changes in an organization.

For this to work, provide clear communication among all the teams involved, from the management to the finance teams. You should explain the new system's benefits to the stakeholders and show how it will improve efficiency, accuracy, and overall performance. Also, offer comprehensive training programs to equip your team with the necessary skills and confidence to use the new tools effectively. Additionally, engage key stakeholders early to secure their buy-in and support, making the transition smoother for everyone.

Automate your financial reporting 

Automating your financial reporting processes can transform how your finance team operates, leading to greater efficiency, accuracy, and strategic insights. 

By reducing manual tasks, minimizing errors, and providing real-time data, automation allows your team to focus on high-impact activities like strategic financial planning, optimizing cash flow management, and driving data-driven investment decisions. 

Ready to streamline your financial reporting? Learn more about how Cube can help you achieve seamless automation and elevate your financial processes.

Request a free demo today.